Additional cavity wall ties - what are they?

~moneysavingnovice~

David_Aldred wrote: »

Hi moneysavingnovice,
From what you are describing I would guess at these not being standard cavity wall ties but the large cast plates with tie bars sometimes with externally visible large bolts and nuts seen on many properties of this age and type used as a method of lateral restraint. They come in various forms and sometimes the spreader plates (to increase the area of restraint) themselves can be very ornate especially those dating back over a hundred years. The way they tie the building together also varies considerably depending upon the reason they were fitted and indeed soem are fitted during initial construction rather than as part of any repair works though obviously the latter also applies in some cases. With regard to your query as to whether you need to be concerned about them? Well they are there for a reason of structural restraint and accordingly your surveyor should be asked to comment upon why they presume they were installed and whether their installation remains affective. Hope this is of use. Kindest regards, David Aldred Independent damp, cavity wall tie and timber surveyor.

Thanks David! So helpful!
My surveyor is doing a home buyer's survey on the property at the end of this week, so I've sent him an email asking him to take a look at them and tell me if they're still effective/need replacing (if that's what they are!).
A more general question I suppose: that even if they are still doing their job and don't need replacing, is their very presence likely to make the place harder to sell in the future? -I'm a bit of a nervy first-time buyer!!

~moneysavingnovice~

Well my surveyor has been round. He said he can't date the ties (would need a much fuller survey/specialist to do that). He said that he can see some small curves in the end-terrace wall, but that he doesn't think the wall has moved for several decades.

So... I suppose I should just go for it? I do love the house!

David_Aldred

Hi,
The surveyor is dodging you a little I feel from the response he has given but you might want to ask him to put something in writing to you regarding specifically the ties given your concern over them even if it is only a couple of lines regarding their function, whether he thinks they were installed after the property was built, whether he thinks this would affect the market value / ability to resale so that you can show this to somebody at a later date. Kindest regards David